Frequently Asked Questions

The intake process starts when you reach out by phone or message. We'll begin with a free 15-minute phone consultation to discuss your concerns, answer questions, and determine if we're the right fit for your therapy goals. If you're using insurance, we'll help you verify your mental health benefits and coverage. Once confirmed, we'll send you an intake packet to complete before scheduling your first session. During the first session, we'll explain important therapy policies, including confidentiality and what to expect from our work together. We'll take time to listen and understand your strengths, story, family background, past trauma, current symptoms, and goals. This session is a safe space where we start building a foundation for healing and growth.

To get the most out of your therapy sessions, consider these key factors: 1. Building a Safe and Trusting Relationship: Our time together is a supportive space where you can explore your vulnerabilities with honesty and courage. Healing begins when you feel safe enough to be fully known. 2. Your Readiness and Willingness to Engage: Therapy works best when you're open to self-reflection, trying new coping tools, and gently challenging unhelpful patterns. Your commitment, even in small steps, drives growth. Remember, this process unfolds at your pace. 3. Tailored, Purposeful Interventions: Each person's healing path is unique. We use trauma-informed, evidence-based approaches—such as EMDR, parts work, and CBT, DBT, and ACT interventions—tailored to your personal goals and values. Together, we seek restoration and growth.

Therapy can offer a wide range of meaningful benefits that support your emotional, relational, and spiritual well-being. Through the therapeutic process, you can gain a deeper understanding of yourself—your emotions, values, and personal goals—while learning practical tools to cope with stress, anxiety, grief, and other emotional challenges. Many people find therapy helps them strengthen communication, improve relationships, and develop healthier patterns in their daily lives. It can also provide a safe space to work through past pain, navigate life transitions, and find resolution to the issues that led them to seek support. Over time, therapy can help boost your self-esteem, build confidence, and equip you with new ways to solve problems—both within yourself and in your family or marriage. Ultimately, therapy is not just about healing—it's about growing into the fullness of who you were created to be.

We accept Aetna, Optum, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and Blue Cross of California. To use insurance, your symptoms need to meet diagnostic criteria and medical necessity requirements for us to submit claims for behavioral health benefits. If you prefer to self-pay, we can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Let's discuss the best option for your needs during our consultation.

Using insurance for therapy has its benefits and drawbacks. On the positive side, it can make therapy more affordable by lowering your out-of-pocket costs and potentially allowing you to access more sessions. However, using insurance requires a diagnosis and treatment plan that meets medical necessity, which becomes part of your medical records and may impact your privacy. Insurance companies often limit the number of sessions they cover, which can affect the continuity of your care. Additionally, not all therapeutic approaches may be fully covered. If privacy or session limits are a concern, we can discuss private pay options for greater confidentiality and flexibility.

Our private pay rate is $190 for a 55-minute session. We accept FSA, HSA, and most major credit cards. When using FSA or HSA funds, please contact your plan administrator to confirm mental and behavioral health eligibility. Please note that we do not accept cash payments at this time.

I offer a sliding scale fee $150-185 for individuals who are eager to engage in therapy but do not have insurance benefits or are experiencing financial hardship. Additionally, I provide discounted rates to support those pursuing mental health degrees or working in the mental health field, or faith leaders encouraging self-care as they continue their important work.

It is difficult to define exactly how long therapy will last because it depends on the severity and complexity of your symptoms, your support systems, and your treatment goals. I suggest committing to therapy for the first 3-6 months and then reevaluating your progress. If you notice a reduction in symptoms and the insights you've gained are starting to make a positive impact in your life, you can then consider adjusting the frequency of sessions. However, consistency is key. Keep in mind that forming new habits typically takes about 30 to 60 days. So, be patient with the process and practice what we work on in sessions to create lasting results.

I respect and value each person’s unique beliefs, and I’m open to learning what matters most to you. Your values, culture, and worldview are honored in this space, and they will help shape the direction of your therapy—not limit it. If your Christian faith is important to you, I offer faith-informed therapy with client's permission to intergrate faith, biblical principles, prauers, or spiritual reflection as part of the healing process.